Trust Leadership

Rachel Wilkes – Chief Executive and Accounting Officer

Rachel Wilkes is the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer for Humber Education Trust. Following a degree in languages, she started her career in business and then audit and risk management before training to be a teacher. As a NCTL ‘Fast Track’ teacher she has worked on school leadership teams since 2004 and completed an MA in Education. Prior to taking up headship she supported the local authority as a ‘leading teacher’ providing training for teachers and undertaking school to school support for colleagues in a variety of schools. Rachel became Headteacher at Clifton Primary School in 2011 and led the school through a period of significant change where the school expanded to include FS1 provision and increased in size from 170 to 320 pupils. In 2016 the school achieved an outstanding rating from Ofsted. Achievement at KS2 has been in the top 5% of schools nationally for the past 3 years. Rachel is a National Leader of Education and Clifton is a National Support School.

Paul Plumridge – Strategic School Improvement Lead

Paul Plumridge is the Strategic School Improvement Lead for Humber Education Trust. He has significant experience in this role across a range of schools and trusts and enjoys supporting and challenging colleagues in a practical and collaborative way. Paul is an Ofsted Inspector and has gained significant experience since 2012 in this role, including leading Section 5 inspections. Paul is the Headteacher of Adelaide Primary School in Hull and also, as Associate Headteacher, helped lead his previous school to outstanding in June 2015.

Nina Siddle – Chief Financial Officer

Nina Siddle is the Chief Financial Officer for Humber Education Trust. With significant experience in School Business Management, she has previously worked as Business Director for Withernsea Primary Academy Trust where she led the academy conversion process and ongoing Finance and Business related operations. Nina holds SLE status and has represented the National College as a SBM Advocate and SBM Primary Partnership Advisor. She is currently an Associate Practitioner & Fellow for the Institute of School Business Leaders (ISBL – previously known as NASBM) and has been involved in the development of the SBM Professional Standards. In support of the DfE drive for school efficiency, she has recently been designated as a School Efficiency Advisor with the potential to support other schools and academies.

Sharon Herrick – HR Specialist

Sharon joined Humber Education Trust as our HR Specialist on the 2nd May 2017 and leads on all our human resource issues on behalf of the Trust. She has over 20 years of extensive HR experience working for education. Prior to working for us she worked for the Local Authority and managed a successful traded HR School’s team to schools within Hull before she retired on the 31st March 2017. She has dealt with all aspects of human resources including academy conversions, complex case work, school closures, workforce development, trade union negotiations and consultations, delivering training as well as being a credited trainer for Safer Recruitment, implementing changes from the DfE and employment legislation.

Sharon is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (MCIPD) by examination and was recently recognised by the CIPD for providing an exceptional service to human resources and people development over 30 years through her membership of the CIPD. Sharon also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management.

Sophie Scott – HR Adviser

Sophie joined Humber Education Trust as our HR Adviser in May 2017 and provides advice and support on human resource issues on behalf of the Trust. She has over 15 years of extensive HR experience working for education. Prior to working for us she worked for the Local Authority and was part of a successful traded HR School’s team to schools within Hull. Sophie’s experience includes academy conversions, complex case work, school closures, workforce development, trade union negotiations and consultations, delivering training as well as being an accredited trainer for Safer Recruitment, implementing changes from the DfE and employment legislation.

Humber Education Trust is an exempt charity regulated by the Secretary of State for Education. It is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 08682547), whose registered office is at C/O Clifton Primary School, Burslem Street, Hull, HU2 9BP.